How does Galatians 3:22 connect with Romans 3:23 about universal sinfulness?

Shared verdict: Scripture’s universal indictment

• Galatians 3:22: “But the Scripture imprisoned everyone under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.”

• Romans 3:23: “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”

Both verses issue the same sweeping verdict: every person, without exception, stands guilty before God. Galatians pictures “imprisonment,” while Romans states the fact of universal failure.

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Why Paul repeats the charge in two letters

• Galatians confronts those tempted to trust the Law; Romans addresses both Jews and Gentiles.

• By restating the doctrine, the Spirit leaves no cultural or religious loopholes.

• The Law exposes sin (Romans 3:20); Scripture itself “locks the cell door” (Galatians 3:22).

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Supporting voices from the rest of Scripture

• Isaiah 53:6 — “All of us like sheep have gone astray.”

• Psalm 14:2-3 — “There is no one who does good, not even one.”

• Romans 11:32 — “God has bound everyone over to disobedience so that He may have mercy on everyone.”

• 1 John 1:8 — “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves.”

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Purpose of the imprisonment

• Reveal our helplessness apart from grace.

• Drive us to the promise “by faith in Jesus Christ” (Galatians 3:22).

• Level every social, ethnic, and moral distinction so salvation can be offered on the same terms to all (Galatians 3:28; Romans 3:24).

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From guilt to gift: one diagnosis, one cure

1. Diagnosis: universal sin (Galatians 3:22; Romans 3:23).

2. Prognosis without Christ: spiritual death (Romans 6:23a).

3. Cure offered: “the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23b).

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Practical takeaways for believers today

• Humility — no ground for boasting; we were all in the same cell.

• Gratitude — freedom is solely by Christ’s merit, not our performance.

• Urgency — if everyone is under sin, everyone needs the gospel.

• Unity — shared guilt produces shared dependence on the same Savior, dissolving worldly divisions.